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- Gruffudd ap Cynan
King of Gwynedd
Reign 1081–1137
Predecessor Trahaearn ap Caradog
Successor Owain Gwynedd
Born c. 1055
Dublin, Ireland
Died 1137
Gwynedd, Wales
Burial Bangor Cathedral
Spouse Angharad ferch Owain
Issue Cadwallon, Owain Gwynedd,
Cadwaladr, Susanna, Gwenllian
House Aberffraw
Father Cynan ab Iago
Mother Ragnailt ingen Amlaíb
Gruffudd ap Cynan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gruffudd ap Cynan (c. 1055 – 1137), sometimes written as
Gruffydd ap Cynan, was King of Gwynedd from 1081 until
his death in 1137. In the course of a long and eventful life, he
became a key figure in Welsh resistance to Norman rule, and
was remembered as King of all Wales. As a descendant of
Rhodri Mawr, Gruffudd ap Cynan was a senior member of
the princely House of Aberffraw.[1]
Through his mother, Gruffudd had close family connections
with the Norse settlement around Dublin and he frequently
used Ireland as a refuge and as a source of troops. He three
times gained the throne of Gwynedd and then lost it again,
before regaining it once more in 1099 and this time keeping
power until his death. Gruffudd laid the foundations which
were built upon by his son Owain Gwynedd and his greatgrandson
Llywelyn the Great.
Contents
1 Life
1.1 Ancestry
1.2 First bid for the throne
1.3 Second bid for the throne and capture by
the Normans
1.4 Escape from captivity and third reign
1.5 King for the fourth time and consolidation
2 Death and succession
3 Children
4 Ancestry
5 References
5.1 Notes
5.2 Citations
5.3 Sources
Life
Unusually for a Welsh king or prince, a near-contemporary
biography of Gruffudd, The history of Gruffudd ap Cynan,
has survived. Much of our knowledge of Gruffudd comes
from this source. The traditional view among scholars was that it was written during the third quarter of the
12th century during the reign of Gruffudd's son, Owain Gwynedd, but it has recently been suggested that it may
date from the early reign of Llywelyn the Great, around 1200. The author is not known.
Most of the existing manuscripts of the history are in Welsh but these are clearly translations of a Latin original.
It is usually considered that the original Latin version has been lost, and that existing Latin versions are retranslations
from the Welsh. However Russell (2006) has suggested that the Latin version in Peniarth MS 434E
incorporates the original Latin version, later amended to bring it into line with the Welsh text.
Coat of Arms retroactively attributed
to Gryffudd ap Cynan
Ancestry
According to the Life of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Gruffudd was born in Dublin and reared near Swords, County
Dublin in Ireland. He was the son of a Welsh Prince, Cynan ap Iago, who was a claimant to the Kingship of
Gwynedd but was probably never king of Gwynedd, though his father, Gruffudd's grandfather, Iago ab Idwal ap
Meurig had ruled Gwynedd from 1023 to 1039. When Gruffudd first appeared on the scene in Wales the Welsh
annals several times refer to him as "grandson of Iago" rather than the more usual "son of Cynan", indicating
that his father was little known in Wales. Cynan ap Iago seems to have died while Gruffudd was still young,
since the History describes his mother telling him who his father was.
According to Historia Gruffud vab Kenan, Gruffudd's mother was Ragnailt ingen Amlaíb, a granddaughter of
King Sigtrygg Silkbeard and a member of the Hiberno-Norse Uí Ímair dynasty.[2] The latter had two sons
named Amlaíb: one died in 1013, whilst another died in 1034. Either man could have been Ragnailt's father.
During his many struggles to gain the kingship of Gwynedd, Gruffudd received considerable aid from Ireland,
from the Hiberno-Norse at Dublin, the Isles and Wexford and from Muircheartach Ua Briain.
First bid for the thr one
Gruffudd first attempted to take over the rule of Gwynedd in 1075, following the death of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn.
Trahaearn ap Caradog had seized control of Gwynedd but had not yet firmly established himself. Gruffudd
landed on Abermenai Point, Anglesey with an Irish force, and with the assistance of troops provided by the
Norman Robert of Rhuddlan first defeated and killed Cynwrig ap Rhiwallon, an ally of Trahaearn who held
Llŷn, then defeated Trahaearn himself in the battle of Gwaed Erw in Meirionnydd and gained control of
Gwynedd.
Gruffudd then led his forces eastwards to reclaim territories taken over by the Normans, and despite the
assistance previously given by Robert of Rhuddlan attacked and destroyed Rhuddlan Castle. However tension
between Gruffudd's Danish-Irish bodyguard and the local Welsh led to a rebellion in Llŷn, and Trahaearn took
the opportunity to counterattack, defeating Gruffudd at the battle of Bron yr Erw above Clynnog Fawr the same
year.
Second bid for the thr one and capture by the Normans
Gruffudd fled to Ireland but, in 1081, returned and made an alliance
with Rhys ap Tewdwr, prince of Deheubarth. Rhys had been attacked by
Caradog ap Gruffudd of Gwent and Morgannwg, and had been forced to
flee to St David's Cathedral. Gruffudd this time embarked from
Waterford with a force composed of Danes and Irish and landed near St
David's, presumably by prior arrangement with Rhys. He was joined
here by a force of his supporters from Gwynedd, and he and Rhys
marched north to seek Trahaearn ap Caradog and Caradog ap Gruffudd
who had themselves made an alliance and been joined by Meilyr ap
Rhiwallon of Powys. The armies of the two confederacies met at the
Battle of Mynydd Carn, with Gruffudd and Rhys victorious and
Trahaearn, Caradog and Meilyr all being killed. Gruffudd was thus able
to seize power in Gwynedd for the second time.
He was soon faced with a new enemy, as the Normans were now
encroaching on Gwynedd. Gruffudd had not been king very long when
he was enticed to a meeting with Hugh, Earl of Chester and Hugh, Earl
of Shrewsbury at Rhug, near Corwen. At the meeting Gruffudd was seized and taken prisoner. According to his
biographer this was by the treachery of one of his own men, Meirion Goch. Gruffudd was imprisoned in Earl
Hugh's castle at Chester for many years while Earl Hugh and Robert of Rhuddlan went on to take possession of
Gwynedd, building castles at Bangor, Wales Bangor, Caernarfon and Aberlleiniog.
Escape from captivity and third reign
Gruffudd reappeared on the scene years later, having escaped from captivity. According to his biography he
was in fetters in the market-place at Chester when Cynwrig the Tall, on a visit to the city, saw his opportunity
when the burgesses were at dinner. He picked Gruffudd up, fetters and all, and carried him out of the city on his
shoulders. There is debate among historians as to the year of Gruffudd's escape. Ordericus Vitalis mentions a
"Grifridus" attacking the Normans in 1088. The History in one place states that Gruffudd was imprisoned for
twelve years, in another that he was imprisoned for sixteen years. Since he was captured in 1081, that would
date his release to 1093 or 1097. J.E. Lloyd favours 1093, considering that Gruffudd was involved at the
beginning of the Welsh uprising in 1094. K.L. Maund on the other hand favours 1097, pointing out that there is
no reference to Gruffudd in the contemporary annals until 1098. D. Simon Evans inclines to the view that
Ordericus Vitalis' date of 1088 could be correct, suggesting that an argument based on the silence of the annals
is unsafe.
Gruffudd again took refuge in Ireland but returned to Gwynedd to lead the assaults on Norman castles such as
Aber Lleiniog. The Welsh revolt had begun in 1094 and by late 1095 had spread to many parts of Wales. This
induced William II of England (William Rufus) to intervene, invading northern Wales in 1095. However his
army was unable to bring the Welsh to battle and returned to Chester without having achieved very much. King
William mounted a second invasion in 1097, but again without much success. The History only mentions one
invasion by Rufus, which could indicate that Gruffudd did not feature in the resistance to the first invasion. At
this time Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys led the Welsh resistance.
In the summer of 1098, Earl Hugh of Chester joined with Earl Hugh of Shrewsbury in another attempt to
recover his losses in Gwynedd. Gruffudd and his ally Cadwgan ap Bleddyn retreated to Anglesey, but were
then forced to flee to Ireland in a skiff when a fleet he had hired from the Danish settlement in Ireland accepted
a better offer from the Normans and changed sides.
King for the fourth time and consolidation
The situation was changed by the arrival of a Norwegian fleet under the command of King Magnus III of
Norway, also known as Magnus Barefoot, who attacked the Norman forces near the eastern end of the Menai
Straits. Earl Hugh of Shrewsbury was killed by an arrow said to have been shot by Magnus himself. The
Normans were obliged to evacuate Anglesey, and the following year, Gruffudd returned from Ireland to take
possession again, having apparently come to an agreement with Earl Hugh of Chester.
With the death of Hugh of Chester in 1101, Gruffudd was able to consolidate his position in Gwynedd, as much
by diplomacy as by force. He met King Henry I of England who granted him the rule of Llŷn, Eifionydd,
Ardudwy and Arllechwedd, considerably extending his kingdom. By 1114, he had gained enough power to
induce King Henry to invade Gwynedd in a three-pronged attack, one detachment led by King Alexander I of
Scotland. Faced by overwhelming force, Gruffudd was obliged to pay homage to Henry and to pay a heavy
fine, but lost no territory. By about 1118, Gruffudd's advancing years meant that most of the fighting, which
pushed Gwynedd's borders eastward and southwards, was done by his three sons by his wife Angharad,
daughter of Owain ab Edwin of Tegeingl: Cadwallon, Owain Gwynedd and later Cadwaladr. The cantrefs of
Rhos and Rhufoniog were annexed in 1118, Meirionnydd captured from Powys in 1123, and Dyffryn Clwyd in
1124. Another invasion by the king of England in 1121 was a military failure. The king had to come to terms
with Gruffudd and made no further attempt to invade Gwynedd during Gruffudd's reign. The death of
Cadwallon in a battle against the forces of Powys near Llangollen in 1132 checked further expansion for the
time being.
Gruffudd was now powerful enough to ensure that his nominee David the Scot was consecrated as Bishop of
Bangor in 1120. The see had been effectively vacant since Bishop Hervey le Breton had been forced to flee by
the Welsh almost twenty years before, since Gruffudd and King Henry could not agree on a candidate. David
went on to rebuild Bangor Cathedral with a large financial contribution from Gruffudd.
Gruffudd was buried in Bangor
Cathedral
Owain and Cadwaladr, in alliance with Gruffudd ap Rhys of Deheubarth, gained a crushing victory over the
Normans at Crug Mawr near Cardigan in 1136 and took possession of Ceredigion. The latter part of Gruffydd's
reign was considered to be a "Golden Age"; according to the Life of Gruffudd ap Cynan Gwynedd was
"bespangled with lime-washed churches like the stars in the firmament".
Death and succession
Gruffudd died in his bed, old and blind, in 1137 and was mourned by the
annalist of Brut y Tywysogion as the "head and king and defender and
pacifier of all Wales". He was buried by the high altar in Bangor Cathedral
which he had been involved in rebuilding. He also made bequests to many
other churches, including one to Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin where he
had worshipped as a boy. He was succeeded as king of Gwynedd by his son
Owain Gwynedd. His daughter Gwenllian, who married Gruffudd ap Rhys
of Deheubarth, son of his old ally Rhys ap Tewdwr, is also notable for her
resistance to English rule.
Children
The family line of Cynan shows he had many children by several different women.[3] With wife Angharad
(daughter of Owain ab Edwin) he had:[4]
Owain Gwynedd (Owain ap Gruffudd),[1] married (1) Gwladus (Gladys) ferch Llywarch, daughter of
Llywarch ap Trahaearn (2) Cristin ferch Goronwy, daughter of Goronwy ab Owain
Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd, married Alice de Clare, daughter of Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare
Cadwallon ap Gruffudd[5]
Mareda
Susanna, married Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys
Ranulht
Agnes
Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, married Gruffudd ap Rhys, prince of Deheubarth
Ancestry
Ancestors of Gruffudd ap Cynan
16. Meurig ap Idwal Foel
8. Idwal ap Meurig
4. Iago ab Idwal
2. Cynan ab Iago
1. Gruffudd ap Cynan
24. Amlaíb Cuarán
12. Sigtrygg Silkbeard
6. Amlaíb
3. Ragnailt
References
Notes
Citations
Sources
Llwyd, Humphrey (2002). Cronica Walliae. University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1638-2.
Lloyd, John Edward (2004). A History of Wales: From the Norman Invasion to the Edwardian Conquest.
Banes & Noble. ISBN 978-0-7607-5241-8.
R.R. Davies (1991). The age of conquest: Wales 1063–1415. O.U.P. ISBN 0-19-820198-2.
Simon Evans (1990). A Mediaeval Prince of Wales: the Life of Gruffudd Ap Cynan. Llanerch Enterprises.
ISBN 0-947992-58-8.
Hudson, Benjamin T. (2005). Viking Pirates and Christian Princes: Dynasty, Religion, and Empire in the
North Atlantic (Illustrated ed.). United States: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195162374, ISBN 978-0-
19-516237-0.
Arthur Jones (1910). The history of Gruffydd ap Cynan: the Welsh text with translation, introduction and
notes. Manchester University Press.. Translation online at The Celtic Literature Collective
K.L. Maund (ed) (1996). Gruffudd ap Cynan: a collaborative biography. Boydell Press. ISBN 0-85115-
389-5.
Kari Maund (ed) (2006). The Welsh kings:warriors, warlords and princes. Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2973-
6.
Paul Russell (ed) (2006). Vita Griffini Filii Conani: The Medieval Latin Life of Gruffudd Ap Cynan.
University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-1893-2.
Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis
Weis, Lines: 176B-26, 239–5
Gruffudd ap Cynan
House of Aberffraw
Cadet branch of the House of Gwynedd
Born: c. 1055 Died: 11 April 1137
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Trahaearn ap Caradog
King of Gwynedd
1081–1137
Succeeded by
Owain Gwynedd
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Categories: 1050s births 1137 deaths Monarchs of Gwynedd House of Aberffraw Uí Ímair
British people of Scandinavian descent 11th-century Welsh monarchs 12th-century Welsh monarchs
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This page was last edited on 19 June 2017, at 11:43.
1. Lloyd 2004, p. 93.
2. Hudson, p 83
3. Llwyd 2002, p. 151.
4. Lloyd 2004, p. 274.
5. Lloyd 2004, p. 78.
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1055 - 1137 (82 years)
